"How do you know what well built tactical gear looks like?"

     It's not as difficult as one might think. When dealing with tactical gear it is important to remember all gear is NOT created equal. You don't have to be a manufacturer to know what good gear is, however if you don't know what your looking to compare, just about any piece of equipment may look good to the untrained eye. Here are some specific items we feel are important to look for when thinking about your equipment purchase:

1 - Are all visible or exposed seams finished with tape or bound?

Answer - They should be. It should be very difficult to find a raw edge. Raw edges are common on the inside of small pouches (a magazine pouch for example), however on larger pouches all internal seams should be finished just like the external ones. This prevents fraying and unraveling over time, provides a cleaner finished product, and in general just makes the item last longer. Of course this is not always possible and depends on the design of the product, however this should always be a feature you look for.

2 - Should I see raw edges or burnt edges on my gear?

Answer - Absolutely not. It is okay to see seared or melted edges on webbing or tape, however these edges should not be at the end of a strap, seam tape, or flaps that don't have a finishing fold. All edges like this should be folded, which prevents the seared edge from coming apart with use. You will frequently see seam tape that is simply cut with hot knife on other manufacturers gear. This is basically a way they use to save time, and we feel is poor attention to detail. It also gives you a piece of gear that is made of many more "pieces", with each extra piece making the gear more prone to failure. Most items should be finished with one continuous piece of seam tape, which should be folded over at corners, NOT CUT.

3 - What size is the thread?

Answer - At a bare minimum #69 thread should be used. This is the smallest acceptable size for this type of equipment, and is really only suitable for smaller items. For long term strength your gear should be made with #92 or #138 thread, which is stronger and lasts longer. You may ask "Why wouldn't they use this if it's really better?" Simple, it's more expensive for one, and the faster your gear fails the faster you will be back to buy more. It's easy to say "But there is a good guarantee".  That may be true, but remember that won't do you much good when your gear fails you in a combat zone. Manufacturers know that most customers are not going to go through the trouble of sending back problem items, in fact, they bank on it.

4 - What should the stitching look like?

Answer - Stitching should be neat and clean. There should not be skipped stitches, or fabric that is severely puckered. Take a look at the "Hall of Shame" for some examples of what stitching should not look like.

5 - What type of fabric should my gear be made of?

Answer - Most tactical gear is built using 500 or 1000 denier Cordura nylon. In some cases nylon pack cloth is used for lining as well. If you're paying premium price for the gear you should always ask for, and insist on, 100% Dupont Cordura nylon. Some manufacturers use generic polyester fabrics that resemble Cordura, or generic Cordura nylon, both of which are cheaper for them to have manufactured. Some companies will even give "their" cordura fancy names, instead of saying it's generic. Always be a cautious consumer and ask before you buy, you might be surprised at the answers you receive.

6 - Is my gear Infrared treated?

Answer - It should be. Most fabrics and webbings made to Milspecs are required to be infrared treated. If in doubt, you should ask. This is a feature worth having when paying top dollar, although it is not as dramatic as one may think. Nylon gear that is not infrared treated will give a distinct glow under infrared light, however this is only true with ACTIVE infrared light sources.  It is also important to note that even if the fabric is treated, the treatment will eventually be degraded with use, so it will not last forever.